Other

Apple Inc.

Brian K Copeland

Erik D Gillow

Donald Q Ross, Iii

John Patrick Ternus

Norman Chow

William Masek

Napthaneal Yuen Tan

Piotr S Trzaskos

Daniel A Green

David Kim

Chuan You Su

William S Masek

Mark E Wilcox

A method for machining may include providing a workpiece with a major (e.g., top) surface and an edge at a perimeter thereof. The method may also include providing a machining tool including an outer rotary cutter and an inner rotary cutter. The workpiece may be machined in a single pass of the machining tool around the perimeter thereof. Machining the workpiece may include simultaneously machining the edge with the inner rotary cutter and machining at least a portion of the major surface with the outer rotary cutter. Accordingly, the edge and at least a portion of the major surface of the workpiece may be simultaneously machined in a single pass. The inner rotary cutter may also simultaneously machine an undercut at the edge of the workpiece. A related machining apparatus including the machining tool is provided. Further, a computer readable medium may include program code for performing the above-described operations.

Method for machining and related machining tool, machining apparatus, and computer code

Methods and structures for manufacturing and assembling matching parts in a manufacturing line are described. In some embodiments, the parts are portions of a consumer product, such as an electronic device. The matching parts are manufactured and assembled in a way such that the interface between the matching parts is substantially seamless. In some embodiments, the interface has a feature with curved portions. Methods involve measuring the dimensions of a primary part and custom machining a secondary part to seamlessly fit with the primary part. In this way, the secondary part is made to uniquely fit the primary part. The primary and secondary parts can be marked to identify them as matching parts in a manufacturing environment where numerous pairs of parts are made.

Adaptive machining for improving assembly fit of consumer electronics

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Brian K Copeland